Governor Gavin Newsom Blames Conservatives for California’s Issues in State of the State Address
In his 2024 State of the State address, California Governor Gavin Newsom laid blame on conservatives for the state’s ongoing challenges, asserting that right-wing forces are “threatening the very foundation of California’s success.”
The 28-minute speech highlighted Newsom’s belief that California’s culture is “the antidote to the poisonous populism of the Right, and to the fear and anxiety that so many people are feeling today.”
“The California way of life we recognize is under attack,” Newsom declared. “For conservatives and delusional California bashers, their success depends on our failure. They want to impeach the very things that have made us successful, as a tactic to turn America toward a darker future. They do so in the name of ‘liberty’ and ‘freedom.’ They want to roll back social progress, social justice, racial justice, economic justice, clean air, clean water, and basic fundamental fairness. They would cleave America from the principles of freedom and the rule of law. And in the process, throw our economy and, in many respects, society as we’ve known it, into chaos.”
Newsom made several bold claims during his address, including that California is leading the nation in addressing the ongoing border crisis and “America’s homeless problem.” These assertions come despite California facing a significant number of illegal immigrants and having the largest homeless population in the country.
Additionally, Newsom dismissed the “wall-to-wall right-wing media coverage” about crime in California cities as false, asserting that his state is safer than Governor Ron DeSantis’ Florida.
Newsom’s statements have drawn sharp criticism from conservatives. California Senator Kelly Seyarto, in a pre-response video, stated “While this pre-recorded speech fulfills the governor’s legal mandate, it does not in any real way fulfill his responsibility to Californians who deserve a safe, affordable and opportunity-filled future.”
